THIBODAUX, La. – Behind a combined 183 yards rushing and four touchdowns by Tuskani Figaro and Michael Henry, the Nicholls State University football team earned its first victory under first-year head coach Tim Rebowe as the Colonels defeated Houston Baptist, 38-17, in Southland Conference action on Saturday afternoon at John L. Guidry Stadium.
 
The Colonels, which had lost the last 23 games including a 31-21 setback at Houston Baptist last season, dominated the Huskies early on by jumping out to a 21-0 lead through the first quarter of play. HBU (2-5, 0-4 SLC) scored 10 points in the second; however, the Colonel defense would not allow another score until late in the fourth quarter when the game was well out of reach.
 
Nicholls (1-5, 1-3 SLC) outgained HBU 425-221 in total offensive yards, helped by an outstanding performance by the defense. The Colonels allowed just 30 yards rushing and 10 first downs by the Huskies, while tallying two sacks, a fumble recovery and two interceptions – both by Jeff Hall.
 
Figaro led the Colonel offense with 134 yards passing on 18 of 25 and added 91 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Henry finished with 92 yards rushing and two scores and Tobias Lofton added 69 yards rushing, highlighted by 39-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. As a team, the Colonels racked up 291 yards rushing on the day. Tight end Stephen LeBouef paced the team with 44 yards receiving on three catches.  A total of seven Colonels recorded a reception, with Josh Singleton hauling in six for 30 yards.
 
The defense set the tone early as Christian Boutte caused and recovered a fumble deep inside HBU territory, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run by Figaro. After forcing another punt, the offense went 72 yards on 13 plays, fueled by LeBouef's three receptions. Henry capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
 
Before the end of the first, Nicholls quickly scored again for a 21-0 lead. Figaro rushed for 23 yards to move Nicholls into the red zone and Xavier Marcus caught a 16-yard pass, being stopped just short of the goal line. Henry then plowed in for his second rushing touchdown of the quarter.
 
Early in the second, HBU cracked the scoreboard on a 2-play drive. The Huskies got a great 49-yard catch by D'Angelo Wallace to the 1-yard line, and B.J. Kelly punched it in to make the score 21-7. Later in the quarter, HBU added a 43-yard field goal by Travis Shinn as time expired to make the score 21-10 at the half. Wallace was the lone bright spot for HBU, racking up a school-record 129 yards receiving on six grabs.
 
Nicholls received the ball after the break and took advantage of a kickoff out-of-bounds, starting the drive at their own 35. After the offense picked up two first downs, Lofton dazzled the home crowd as he eluded a Husky defender with a spin move halfway through his 39-yard touchdown run.
 
Trailing 28-10 late in the third, HBU elected to go for it on fourth-and-6 from Nicholls' 32 and Hall made a leaping catch for an interception in the end zone. The Colonel defense caused problems for Staver all day as he finished with 125 yards passing on 8 of 21 attempts.
 
In the fourth, Nicholls put to rest any chance of a comeback with a prolonged seven-minute touchdown drive. After crossing midfield, the Colonels rushed the ball seven consecutive times, with Figaro ending the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run for a 35-10 lead.
 
On HBU's first play of the ensuing possession, Hall picked off Tony Dawson and returned it 31 yards to HBU's 17, setting up a 31-yard field goal by Condado with 6:29 to play. Kelly added a 3-yard touchdown run for HBU to make the final.
 
Nicholls held the ball for over 40 minutes in the contest, resulting in the defense's leading tackler Hezekiah White lowest total of the season with six. B.T. Sanders also had six, while freshmen Kenny Dotson and Chris Major each had a sack.
 
The Colonels will hit the road for their next contest, taking on nationally-ranked Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas on Saturday, Oct. 24. Kickoff against the Bearkats is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on Fox College Sports.